• NI Committee views the impact of BIG funding

• What's the Big Deal?
• Equality Update
• Hot off the press!

BIG Reaches for Communities in NI

A range of vital community projects to improve the lives of people across Northern Ireland have been awarded grants totalling nearly £6 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities NI programme.

Fifteen projects across Northern Ireland have been awarded grants totalling £5,702,118 through the £18m programme which aims to support a wide range of projects that bring changes to people’s lives, creating stronger communities and improved local environments.

Four projects in Belfast and the North West will develop a range of activities to improve the lives of young people including programmes on drug and alcohol misuse, teenage pregnancy, job skills, suicide and self-harm.

Other projects awarded funding include a scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour and improve living conditions for people in Ballymena’s Dunclug estate and an initiative to provide support for people caring for terminally ill family members in the Northern and South Eastern Health Trust areas.

Rathlin Island Development and Community Association, based on the remote Rathlin Island, six miles off Ballycastle, has been awarded a grant of £301,671 for a project to improve the quality of life, community spirit, education and health of island residents. Treasurer John McCurdy said: “The project will transform the lives of people on the island and create a range of programmes and activities for people of all ages to enjoy.”

North and West Taxi Proprietors (pictured) has been awarded £473,352 to run a project providing a range of programmes for taxi drivers in the Derry City area including health, disability awareness and community safety.

Focus on Young People

Summer (what summer?) is over and we are slowly making the transition into the new school year.  With this in mind this edition of the e-bulletin aims to celebrate the achievements of our funding programmes aimed exclusively at young people In Northern Ireland.  In total it adds up to an impressive £102 million!

Change UR Future and Activities for Young People are programmes that have helped disaffected or “at risk” young people with their personal development and stimulated an interest in learning.  The circumstances of young people helped by these projects are varied.  Some projects have helped teenage mums and dads cope with the stresses of parenthood, or offered support during bereavement or family break-up.  Other projects have worked with young people with addictions or those who are involved in anti-social behaviour.  Support has also been given to young people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or autism.

There is still a strand of the Young People’s Fund programme open for applications called The Big Deal.  Through The Big Deal individual young people or informal groups (aged 0-25) can apply for a small grant for projects that encourage youth participation.  If you are interested in applying please contact The Big Deal by phoning 028 9033 1880 or check their website for further information.

Or you may be interested in becoming a member of The Big Deal Children and Young People’s Forum.  Read the "What's the Big Deal?" article in this e-bulletin.

A number of schools, afterschool clubs and crèches have received grants to improve PE & sport facilities, improve childcare facilities, run a range of afterschool activities, run summer schemes and start up breakfast clubs and homework clubs.  Awards for All has funded a diverse range of projects including improvements to playground areas and arts events.  Sports clubs for young people have benefited from the Active Lifestyles grant programme.  The link between physical activity and positive behaviour in the classroom has been demonstrated through the evaluation of the PE & Sport programme.  For further details see the Hot of the Press article.

Daisies Café Youth Project

Daisies Café Youth Project is a unique initiative that gives young people with severe learning disabilities the opportunity to gain independence and change their lives by taking part in training and work experience in Daisies Café in Newtownards.

The groundbreaking project, run by Scrabo Catering Enterprises Ltd. and funded with a grant of £85,643 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Change UR Future programme, provides training courses for young people aged 16 –19 from local Special Needs Schools in key catering skills and serving the public during busy Saturdays at the café.

The grant from BIG is being used to teach the young people a range of skills aimed at boosting their confidence, self-esteem and employability including food preparation and hygiene, first aid, and health and safety.

By working in the busy, bustling café, the young people are gaining hands on, practical experience in dealing with the public, meeting and working with others, and achieving their goals.

Derek McClure, Scrabo Catering Enterprises Ltd. Voluntary Director, said “The café is only staffed by the young people and it is a real hands on approach for them to increase their confidence and contribute to community life.”

NI Committee views the impact of BIG funding

The Big Lottery Fund’s Northern Ireland Committee visited a range of projects across Northern Ireland this summer to see the real improvements National Lottery funding has made to local communities.

The NI Committee, which makes decisions on how National Lottery money is spent, met with a number of grant recipients to find out how local communities have developed over the years thanks to support from the Big Lottery Fund.

The Committee, who were joined by BIG’s NI Director Walter Rader, visited a total of 27 projects across Newry and Mourne, Coleraine, Derry/Londonderry, Ballymena, Antrim, Armagh, Craigavon and Belfast area to view at first hand the difference they are making to the lives of people and communities most in need.

The projects visited included An Munia Tober, which runs an After School programme for young people in the Travelling Community in Belfast, Ballymena Family and Addicts Support Group, which runs support programmes for substance abusers and their families, and Richhill Recreation Centre, which provides sporting facilities to improve the health, fitness and well-being of people from the Armagh community.

Walter Rader, the Big Lottery Fund’s NI Director said: “I am extremely impressed that so many organisations in positive partnerships are making use of the proceeds of National Lottery funding to create important projects. The projects that our NI Committee have visited are making a real difference to the lives of many local people.”

What's the Big Deal?

Young people from all over Northern Ireland are being encouraged to join a group to present their ideas and get involved in decision-making about the things that matter to them. The Big Deal Children and Young People’s Forum (CYPF) helps shape the way a Big Lottery Fund programme operates and even makes decisions about who gets funding.

The worker who supports the group, Kathleen Burns, said “New members are always welcome at the Children and Young People’s Forum to bring fresh ideas and replace children and young people who have moved on to other things. We are looking for members from all over Northern Ireland up to the age of 25 and we have members as young as 8”.

The CYPF was set up 2 years ago to ensure that young people have full and effective participation in the running of The Big Deal. To date we have advised youth organisations and government departments on how to engage children and young people; helped make funding decisions on half a million pounds; and organised our own events such as ‘Have Your Say Day’.

If you would like further information on the Children and Young People’s Forum please contact the CYPF worker on 028 9033 1990, email cypf@thebigdealni.com or visit CYPF webpage.

Equality Update

The Big Lottery Fund publishes Northern Ireland-specific equality reports in line with our legal duties and to communicate important developments in our equality work. The following key equality documents are can be accessed via our website or by contacting the equality adviser at the details below.

Northern Ireland Equality Scheme 2007-2012

The scheme sets out how BIG will comply with its legal duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998). Our final scheme was published in May 2008 and was communicated to staff in June. It is available on our website.

Northern Ireland Disability Action Plan 2007-2012

This plan sets out how BIG proposes to comply with new disability equality duties. The updated action plan is currently awaiting approval following an informal review.

Screening 4 Report

BIG publishes annual screening reports that set out the details and outcomes of policies, programmes and functions screened for equality impacts. Our fourth screening report was published in September 2008 and covers the period October 2007 – June 2008. The report is currently out to public consultation until 12 December 2008. We will provide findings from the consultation in our next screening report. Our previous screening reports are still available to view on the website.

Annual Report to Equality Commission 2007-2008

BIG reports annually to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland on our equality compliance work. We are committed to making these annual reports publicly available. Our report for 2007-2008 is awaiting internal approval to be forwarded to the Equality Commission.

In addition to online publication, our documents can also be provided on request in hard copy or alternative formats (such as in large print, in Braille, on audio cassette, easy read or on computer disc) and/or language.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of our equality reports for Northern Ireland, or if you would like to request the documents in other formats, please contact our equality adviser, Joan Reid or Nigel Chambers (jobshare) on 028 9055 1440 or email equalities.ni@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Hot off the press!

PE & Sport Programme Evaluation available

We have published a summary of the fifth UK wide evaluation report for the New Opportunities for PE and sport programme. The evaluation is exploring the impact of the programme on partnership, participation and wider social change. Find out more about the evaluation.

Tell us what you think...

Does BIG provide a good service?  We recently launched a Customer Satisfaction Survey and this is your chance to tell us what you think - what we’ve got right and what we can do better.  There are 18 questions and it should take you no longer than 10-15 minutes to complete.

Research Programme Workshop

A workshop for applicants to the Research Programme is being held on 3 November 2008 at Big Lottery Fund’s Belfast offices. Third Sector First is running this workshop on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund.  It is designed for voluntary and community sector organisations that are relatively or entirely new to research, rather than for professional researchers or experienced commissioners of research.  Third Sector First will also hold individual ‘surgeries’ for applicants registered with the Research programme on the 4 November 2008.

Please note that this workshop is open only to organisations that have registered for the Research programme, and delegates will be required to give their programme ‘ID’ number when booking. Find out more information, download a booking form and return the completed form by email to support@3sf.co.uk by October 24 2008. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If you would like any further information on any of the articles in this update you can contact a member of the Information Team in the Belfast office by emailing enquiries.ni@biglotteryfund.org.uk

Tel: 028 9055 1455
Fax: 028 9055 1444
Textphone: 028 9055 1431
Web: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Big Lottery Fund
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